Tag: nature

life natural world

Intermission 24c

Well summer is well and truly over.

Insects have been in short supply – I have even missed the wasps

I have seen the moon in interesting settings

Cloud formations invariably with sunsets have been numerous

Summer put in the odd showing-Flamborough head, Yorkshire

The sea washed chalk rock provides an excellent contrast for natures beach detritus

A palmatum newt – not as fancy as the great crested but common – the only downside is they eat frog spawn so you get one or the other in a pond – the answer of course is to have two ponds…..one for each!

Skipwith common near Selby is the last of open common land undrained left in northern England- it was once very common. The habitat was self managed by wandering flocks of wild cattle. Today they use cattle and sheep.

Some late summer or early autumn colour to finish up.

Tags intermission, nature, sunset, the natural world, weather

life natural world

Intermission 24b

At least there has been the odd cloudscape worth a look

A waning crescent moon – last phase of the old moon before a new one arrives. The sliver of light is always attractive

Attractive caterpillar but for my one box shrub it’s terminal as these guys strip and destroy the shrub. Your only fix is hand removal of every caterpillar you see. looks like something less vulnerable will be found instead.

Stripped in a week by cheeky caterpillars

Tags intermission, moon, nature, sky, summer, sunset, the natural world, weather

life natural world

Intermission 24a

Intermissions have been thin on the ground this year. Perversely the awful weather has meant more time indoors – war gaming.

But there have been some interesting sights all the same.

The clouds and sky remain a fascination for colours and shapes

Yorkshire playing fields – cricket might be a case of no pitch rather just rain stopping play

Plenty of dark brooding skies even during the day!

There have also been very bright days – the Roman multi angular walls of York stand proudly

Cinema top view in 2024 was Oppenheimer – but what’s on the wall? A commemorative plaque to this free French hero of WW2 York – P/O Yves Mahe – 82 years on.

The odd Sahara warm front plume has given its signature vibrant sunsets

The demise of GCN plus pro cycling app means it’s Eurosport on discovery complete with amazing editing that chops the last 200m of the race (you could not make it up). Still you get the castle pictures during boring mid race bits

Very moody castle at Sandal near Wakefield.

Sky colour – blue pink contrasts are always impressive

I always like these skies when there is some fiery yellow gold of the sun still in play

I think Tony Blair was in power last time I stepped inside the walls of the national railway museum. Still it is a fantastic visit

I think I was last here when England won the World Cup (only joking). It was quite a while ago and now it’s got a roof of sorts. I seem to remember a lot of complaints about the proposal although that was probably the visitor centre that has not appeared. Clifford’s tower in York is erroneously called a castle (of which it was only part). It is vastly improved by the protection and access works that have been done. The 17th century garrison destruction of the tower interior turned the walls red.

Last of a sunset and the inspiring colour gradations of almost black through dark blues to a washed out grey then tepid orange. the black outlines of trees and buildings are important to provide contrast to the orange while without the orange the colour range of blues would be the poorer

Tags castles, intermission, life, nature, sunset, the natural world, weather, winter

life natural world

April is the time of year I get out and about to see what creatives and artists in York have been up to. 100 odd sites across the city allow you to see what other people do in terms of painting, sculpting, ceramics, printing and generally craft work of some sort.

This venue showed the artists books of ideas, thoughts etc.

It is also possible to see the places where these works of art are created and chat with the artists themselves about their thinking and ideas.

They often show their methods, tools and also records.

As it happened we had an old guide book so the tour was a bit of a voyage of discovery- yet it meant we saw people and art we had not planned to. Some of it was not only a surprise but very enjoyable to discover. And as usual we got lost in the backstreets of York.

All in all it usually results in me feeling a bit expansive, what could I do in the way of arts and craft?

At least it was dry the day we took in the open studios and our route took us through the recently reopened Rowntree park – now the river Ouse has dropped its levels a bit!

At least it’s a cheering and pleasurable event in what is proving to be a fairly miserable Spring.

Tags arts and crafts, intermission, nature, open studios, the natural world, weather

life natural world

Intermission 23k

Not so many cloud formations caught my eye over summer and autumn.

Here are some I liked for their shapes, colour and of course contrast with sky blues and sun yellows……

Sunrise – sometimes like sunset!

Clouds – in an autumn sunset

Sunset with expansive skies

Tags autumn, clouds, intermission, life, nature, skyscrapers, sun, sunset

life natural world

Intermission 23j

The sky is always full of interesting shapes and moods.

This cloud formation seems to promise turbulence at some point or maybe not?

sometimes you get the suggestion of a shape – a bird maybe

fluffy clouds never dissappoint and the high level cloud promises a fine day – over Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire

A typical evening cloud this year – sun, rain, cloud, wind – or a bit of everything

Sunsets have still been interesting even if they have been less in number or so it seems

Rainbows are always a welcome diversion from the inevitable rain

Tags cloudscapes, historic sites, History, life, Military History, nature, the natural world

natural world

Intermission 23i

Up in the Lake District I encountered this very friendly robin near Ambleside.

Ambleside robin

Tags birdsong, nature, the natural world

natural world

Intermission 23h colour

Nature has a way of making even colour it’s own magic

Always a favourite a geranium in purple?

Another favourite – lychnis whose pinky red hues are quite unreal with the contrasting green grey foliage adding to the show

Tags colour, flowers, intermission, nature

life natural world

Intermission 23g – Stars

The other night, as we entered a concerted high pressure weather system, the moon rose through an interesting cloud fragmentation (which I missed capturing) only to reveal absolute clarity in the night sky. Stars in my eyes followed………..

The sky was very blue black and bright in the moonlight and the stars were very very bright and clear. So with a simple phone camera I caught some surprising images. Normally I struggle to replicate my naked eye views of the stars.

I think by the TV aerial just above is Aldebaran and Hyades? while centre is Orions belt and above is Betelgeuse and below Rigel? and just into the cloud at the top may be Castor and Pollux – Gemini?